Choique House is located in a residential area of small lots bordering the golf course in the city of Cariló. A restrictive building code, combined with the program’s requirements, led to a project that optimizes both the constructed area and the perceived volume.
Project Name: Choique House
Studio Name: Estudio Galera Arquitectura
Location: Cariló, Pinamar County, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Lot Area: 670 m2
Building Area: 298 m2
Project Construction: 2021 – 2023
Photography: Diego Medina
The steep slope of the site allows for access at an intermediate level, enabling the three floors to fully open toward the rear, blurring the boundary between the property and the golf course landscape. To meet program demands, the house closes off to the south while opening the bedrooms to the morning sun, enhancing the outdoor expansions oriented to the north and west.
Considering the site’s topography, a direct entrance from street level leads to the social areas of the house. The playroom and children’s bedrooms are located on the lower level, while the master bedroom and a small studio are situated on the top floor. Service areas are grouped to the south. At the entrance, a designated space for bicycle storage was included, as the home’s proximity to the town center makes cycling the preferred mode of transport during summer.
The various spaces are organized around a “virtual hinge”—a central void formed by preserving a natural patio at the heart of the lot. This patio acts as a transitional space that connects both interior and exterior paths, serves as a large rainwater reservoir, and ensures privacy by separating the house from the street and parking area. To the northwest, the patio is enclosed by a suspended pool, designed as a sculptural element that partially “floats” above the ground.
The barbecue area is designed to pivot, functioning for both indoor and outdoor use. It also supports the living room by opening views toward the golf course while shielding interior spaces from street views.
On the street-facing side, within the buildable area, Choique House mirrors the volume constructed on the golf course side, creating a “contained void”—a box made of fine aluminum slats. This feature shapes the new space while acting as a vertical filter that protects vehicles from sunlight and falling branches, and ensures privacy at the entrance through panels planted with a variety of vegetation.
The circulation paths around the patio, the interplay between different levels, and the strong connection between front and rear facades transform Choique House into an architectural lens: one that frames the landscape, filters the urban surroundings, and enhances the relationship with the artificial green of the golf course.
